FOI Request - Social Services Process

Request 101002914728

Under Freedom of information I would like to know the following information.

1. Is there any connection between childhood experiences and future parenting abilities. Can you supply evidence to back up your response.

2. Do professionals like Cafcass, Guardian ad litem, Psychologists etc have access to child social services paperwork prior to doing their assessments? If so what type of information is shared and is this only in child social services vs parents or also in custody disputes?

3. Do child social services share paperwork, even historical with other child social services areas for example from Coventry to South Yorkshire and if so under what circumstances?

4. How often is misinformation passed between different child social services areas and what can the person that misinformation pertains to do about it?

Response 24-11-2021

1) In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that the information is not held.

2) Third party professionals may have access to this information where proportionate and appropriate and in accordance with data protection legislation. The type of information shared will depend on the case in question. With regards to the last part of the question, accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that the information is not held.

3) Yes. Circumstances includes information sharing for child protection and to promote the wellbeing of children and their families.

Under our duty to be helpful when responding to Freedom of Information enquiries, we can advise that the following documents may give you a better understanding of the how the Council shares information:

Moray’s Data Protection Policy:

http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file127020.pdf

Moray Community Planning Partnership Information Sharing Guidance:

http://www.moray.gov.uk/downloads/file118584.pdf

National Guidance for Child Protection incorporating guidance on information sharing:

https://www.gov.scot/publications/national-guidance-child-protection-scotland-2021/documents/

4) In accordance with section 17 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 we can confirm that the information is not held.